Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docaltiore’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docaltiore’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with orange-colored petals, red-colored centers and yellow-colored central star-shaped pattern; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa parviflora.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOCALTIORE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa parviflora and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Docaltiore’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching and early-flowering Calibrachoa plants with numerous large and attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2019 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA19-K0285, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA19-K0244, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2022.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2022 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Docaltiore’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Docaltiore’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large flowers with orange-colored petals, red-colored centers         and yellow-colored central star-shaped pattern.     -   6. Good container and garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than and not         as vigorous as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more upright than and not         as trailing as plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have stronger and healthier         leaves than plants of the female parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   6. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have orange-colored flowers         with red-colored centers whereas plants of the female parent         selection have pink-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than and not         as vigorous as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have orange-colored flowers         with red-colored centers whereas plants of the male parent         selection have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL91001’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,232. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL91001’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than and not         as vigorous as plants of ‘USCAL91001’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of ‘USCAL91001’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger leaves than plants         of ‘USCAL91001’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘USCAL91001’.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘USCAL91001’.     -   6. Flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa have orange-colored         petals with red-colored centers and yellow-colored central         star-shaped pattern whereas flowers of plants of ‘USCAL91001’         have red purple-colored petals with yellow-colored centers and         central star-shaped pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Docaltiore’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Docaltiore’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18C and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photographs were taken and 25 weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general tetms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa parviflora ‘Docaltiore’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA19-K0285,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA19-K0244,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading to             trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit             with about seven primary lateral branches each with about             five to seven secondary lateral branches developing per             plant; pinching enhances branching; dense and full             appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 21.2             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 21.8             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread of plant).—About 75 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 35 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Color, at the internodes.—Close to 144A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 152B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after             flowering, opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;             matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to N137C; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.4 mm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to 138A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 576 flowers and flower buds developing per plant;             flowers face mostly upright to somewhat outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about six             weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the             spring throughout the summer in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 4.6 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Rippled;             semi-glossy. Color: Immature sepals, close to 137A; immature             petals, close to 39C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm by 3.2 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.9 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8.4 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5.2 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.6 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 31C; towards             the center, close to 46B; star-shaped pattern, close to 5B.             Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 35C. Petal,             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 31B; towards the             center, close to 46A; star-shaped pattern, close to 5B;             venation, close to 59A; color does not change with             subsequent development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 35D; venation, close to 59A; color does not change             with subsequent development. Throat: Close to 7A; venation,             close to 59B. Tube: Close to 154C; venation, close to 59A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 9.3 mm. Sepal             width: About 2.1 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color: When developing             and fully developed, upper surface: Close to 137A. When             developing and fully developed, lower surface: Close to             137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm.             Angle: About 45 degrees from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close             to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color: Close to 151D.             Anther length: About 1.1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal.             Anther color: Close to 10B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 13A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About 8.1 mm.             Style color: Close to N144D. Stigma diameter: About 0.8 mm.             Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 143B.             Ovary color: Close to 145A. Fruits: Quantity produced per             plant: About 448 per plant. Length: About 5.9 mm. Diameter:             About 5.2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             N199C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 61. Length: About             1 mm. Diameter: About 0.9 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 200A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden perfotmance and to tolerate wind, rain,     temperatures ranging from about 5C to about 40C and to be suitable     for USDA Hardiness Zone 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docaltiore’ as illustrated and described. 